Since the Nintendo 64 has been out on the market,
racing games have been the most plentiful genre. Motorcycle games, however,
are a take that only has appeared late in the system's life cycle. EA
Sports' Supercross 2000 is the first bike
game to focus on the simulation aspect.
For this version of Supercross
2000, EA Sports enlisted the services of MBL Research, which is
the company that ported NHL 99 to the
Nintendo 64. So even though gamers actually got a port of an EA Sports
PlayStation game that doesn't seem a year behind, it also means the small
group at MBL Research didn't have the time or resources to bring NHL 2000
(PSX) to the N64.
Gameplay & Control
Supercross 2000
is a simulation game first and an arcade game second, and gamers should
realize this. Just like real Supercross racing, riders have to come to
an almost complete stop around most bends. But at the same time, there
are hills and jumps—along
with cool crashes—to
keep things interesting. Nevertheless, non-Supercross
fans will want to approach the racing aspect knowing these words of caution.
On the flip side, Supercross
2000 features a very cool and entertaining Freestyle mode. It's
a timed competition
for one or two players where you perform as many stunts as possible. There
are 17 stunts that can be performed, and there are different Medley, Big
Air, and Stylie
bonus points that can be earned, too. Holding Bottom C and pressing different
directions with the Control Pad or Control Stick performs stunts.
Control in Supercross 2000
is a little touchy, although you do have your choice between the Control
Pad and Control Stick. The A button is throttle, the B button is brake,
the Z or L button is clutch (this helps for going around bends), the Bottom
C button needs to be held to do stunts, the Left C button changes views,
the Right C button changes the on-screen overlays, the Top C button is
for putting you back on the track if you get stuck, and finally, the R
button lets you look behind.
Die-hard Supercross fans have the option to tweak
their bike before each Supercross or Freestyle race, which noticeably
affects suspension, control, and speed. Traction can be moved between
slick and rough, Gearing between acceleration and top speed, and Shocks
between soft and stiff.
When it comes to computer competition, Supercross
2000 puts ten riders total on the track in the one-player Supercross
modes. With the adjustable difficulty options, you can increase the level
of competition and race better battles with more bumping,
blocking and big crashes. Unfortunately, there is no computer competition
in the Freestyle or two-player modes.
Graphics & Sound
Visually, Supercross 2000
looks quite nice. With the Expansion Pak, the Nintendo 64 version has
a definite advantage over the PlayStation game. Everything becomes more
clear and less pixelated, and there's nary a drop in frame rate. Rider
animation is solid, if unspectacular, for Supercross races. The animation
in the Freestyle mode is quite impressive, however. A nice touch is that
the tracks develop grooves and ruts as the race goes on.
The audio side of Supercross
2000 is decent. First of all, during races, you have your choice
between play-by-play and random music. Art Eckman's
play-by-play is usually accurate, but it's also quite limited. The random
music consists of 30- to 60-second snippets of digitized songs—complete with
vocals—from
upstart alternative bands. The sound effects of the bikes are realistic,
but they can get repetitive quickly.
Conclusion
Supercross 2000 is
a good, welcome addition to the system's library. Fans of Supercross are
in for a treat, and non-fans can find something to like in here as well.
If you're tired of traditional road racing, give this one a try. If nothing
else, try it for the fun Freestyle mode.
Final Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0
competition and race better battles with more bumping,
blocking and big crashes. Unfortunately, there is no computer competition
in the Freestyle or two-player modes.